Dirty O'Neil

Last updated
Dirty O'Neil
Dirty O'Neil FilmPoster.jpeg
Film poster
Directed byLeon Capetanos (as "Howard Freen")
Lewis Teague
Written byLeon Capetanos (as "Howard Freen")
Produced byJohn C. Broderick
executive
Leon Capetanos
Starring Morgan Paull
Art Metrano
Pat Anderson
Jeane Manson
Katie Saylor
Cinematography Stephen M. Katz
Music by Raoul Kraushaar
Production
company
United Producers
Distributed by American International Pictures
Release date
  • May 1974 (1974-05)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$200,000 [1]

Dirty O'Neil is a 1974 American film directed by Leon Capetanos and Lewis Teague.

Contents

Plot

Jimmy O'Neil (Morgan Paull), a cop in a small California town with a fondness for women, is forced into action when a trio of homicidal thugs invade the town.

Cast

Production

Morgan Paull later claimed Harrison Ford auditioned for the role Paull played. He called Dirty O'Neill "the lowest budget movie in history, believe me… I mean our lunch was whatever they could find at a local hotdog stand. But it was a lead role and it was supposed to be funny, a takeoff on all the cop movies that were going on… And it had potential of being funny. Art Metrano was funny and I was trying to be somewhat funny… And the premise was funny. But you know – it was what it was." He added, " I was happily married at the time so it was the greatest waste of talent in my life." [2]

The film's original title was The Love Life of a Cop. According to producer John Broderick it was "a light comedy about a cop in a small town and a bunch of girls who freak out about his uniform. He's prone to non violence but when a lot of violence comes to town he has to deal with all these murders." Broderick said the distributors suggested he change the title to Dirty O'Neill. "I told them, 'Won't that seem too much like Dirty Harry ?' And these guys said, 'Don't we wish'." [1]

Reception

John Broderick said "people are going to see it and they seem to like it. What makes it visible is it's just a light comedy, not anything pretentious that makes you uncomfortable." [1]

Home Media

CODE RED, in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), released DIRTY O'NEIL on homevideo for the first time via Blu-ray in March 2022. Distributed by KINO-LORBER, the disc went OOP in late 2024. The sleeve art advertised a "Brand New 2k Master" of the film.

Critical

Variety hypothesized the filmmakers "may have had a loweer-budget Electra Glide In Blue in mind when they started this project, but it quickly turns into a sexploitationer... Only near the windup of the film is there any police action... Handsomely photographed by some uncredited cinematographer, it gives the film a professional gloss that makes it look better than it is. Should please most of the sex and action crowd if they have the patience to sit through the other half of the bill." [3]

Los Angeles Times called it "a decidedly minor effort... this unabashed male chauvinist fantasy" which "does demonstrate that Morgan Paul, an able young actor... can carry a starring part with ease." [4]

Cinema Retro said "the entertaining film... is filled with solid direction and features fun performances by wonderful talent... a simple and engaging story, a catchy musical score by Raoul Kraushaar... and contains enough action and laughs to fill its brief 89 minute running time." [5]

According to American International Pictures: A Filmography "This story of sex and small-town cops was paired on double bills with They Call Her One Eye and mainly played the bigcity grindhouses and suburban drive-ins. As a matter of fact, since Dirty O'Neil deals with the amorous exploits of a cop in a town overflowing with attractive women, it seems the perfect film for people to watch at drive-ins, as they sit in their deck chairs and nurse their six-pack." [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Ferris Buellers Day Off</i> 1986 teen comedy film by John Hughes

Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 American teen comedy film written, co-produced, and directed by John Hughes. The film stars Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, and Alan Ruck, with supporting roles from Jennifer Grey, Jeffrey Jones, Cindy Pickett, Edie McClurg, Lyman Ward, and Charlie Sheen. It tells the story of a charismatic high school slacker, Ferris, who skips school with his best friend Cameron and his girlfriend Sloane for a day in Chicago, regularly breaking the fourth wall to explain his techniques and inner thoughts.

<i>Cobra</i> (1986 film) 1986 film by George P. Cosmatos

Cobra is a 1986 American action drama film directed by George P. Cosmatos and written by Sylvester Stallone, who stars in the titular role. The film, loosely based on the 1974 novel A Running Duck by Paula Gosling, co-stars Reni Santoni, Brigitte Nielsen and Andrew Robinson. Cobra follows Los Angeles police Lt. Marion "Cobra" Cobretti, who investigates a string of violent crimes and also protects a witness targeted by the perpetrators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Stockwell</span> American actor (1936–2021)

Robert Dean Stockwell was an American actor with a career spanning seven decades. As a child actor under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he appeared in Anchors Aweigh (1945), Song of the Thin Man (1947), The Green Years (1946), Gentleman's Agreement (1947), The Boy with Green Hair (1948), and Kim (1950). As a young adult, he played a lead role in the 1957 Broadway play Compulsion and its 1959 film version; and in 1962 he played Edmund Tyrone in the film version of Long Day's Journey into Night, for which he won two Best Actor Awards at the Cannes Film Festival. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for his starring role in the 1960 film version of D. H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers.

<i>Magnum Force</i> 1973 American film

Magnum Force is a 1973 American neo-noir action thriller film and the second to feature Clint Eastwood as maverick cop Harry Callahan after the 1971 film Dirty Harry. Ted Post, who had previously worked with Eastwood on Rawhide and Hang 'Em High, directed the film. The screenplay was written by John Milius and Michael Cimino. The film score was composed by Lalo Schifrin. This film features early appearances by David Soul, Tim Matheson and Robert Urich. At 123 minutes, it is the longest of the five Dirty Harry films.

<i>Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment</i> 1985 film directed by Jerry Paris

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment is a 1985 American comedy film directed by Jerry Paris. It is the second installment in the Police Academy franchise and the sequel to Police Academy.

<i>The Enforcer</i> (1976 film) 1976 film by James Fargo

The Enforcer is a 1976 American neo-noir action thriller film and the third in the Dirty Harry film series. Directed by James Fargo, it stars Clint Eastwood as Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan, Tyne Daly as Inspector Kate Moore, and DeVeren Bookwalter as criminal mastermind Bobby Maxwell. It was also the last film in the series to feature John Mitchum as Inspector Frank DiGiorgio.

<i>Freebie and the Bean</i> 1974 film by Richard Rush

Freebie and the Bean is a 1974 American buddy cop black comedy action film starring James Caan and Alan Arkin, and directed by Richard Rush. The film follows two police detectives who wreak havoc in San Francisco attempting to bring down an organized crime boss. The film, which had been originally scripted as a serious crime drama, morphed into what is now known as the "buddy-cop" genre due to the bantering, improvisational nature of the acting by Caan and Arkin. Reportedly, by the end of filming, both actors were confused by the purpose of the movie, not knowing that they had stumbled into a successful character formula. The film was popular enough to spawn various other successful film franchises such as, Lethal Weapon, 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop. Loretta Swit and Valerie Harper appeared in supporting roles.

<i>Scandal Sheet</i> (1952 film) 1952 film by Phil Karlson

Scandal Sheet is a 1952 American film noir directed by Phil Karlson. The film is based on the 1944 novel The Dark Page by Samuel Fuller, who himself was a newspaper reporter before his career in film. The drama features Broderick Crawford, Donna Reed and John Derek.

<i>Dirty Harry</i> (film series) American action film series

Dirty Harry is an American neo-noir action thriller film series featuring San Francisco Police Department Homicide Division Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan. There are five films: Dirty Harry (1971), Magnum Force (1973), The Enforcer (1976), Sudden Impact (1983) and The Dead Pool (1988). Clint Eastwood portrayed Callahan in all five films and directed Sudden Impact.

<i>Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol</i> 1987 film by Jim Drake

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol is a 1987 American comedy film. It is the fourth installment in the Police Academy franchise. It was released on April 3, 1987 and is the sequel to Police Academy 3: Back in Training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art Metrano</span> American actor (1936–2021)

Arthur Metrano was an American actor. He was noted for his role as Lt./Capt./Cmdt. Mauser in Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment and Police Academy 3: Back in Training.

<i>McQ</i> 1974 film by John Sturges

McQ is a 1974 American Panavision neo-noir crime action film directed by John Sturges and starring John Wayne. It costars Eddie Albert, Diana Muldaur, and Al Lettieri, and features Colleen Dewhurst, Clu Gulager, David Huddleston, Julian Christopher, Roger E. Mosley, and William Bryant in supporting roles. The film was shot in the State of Washington, making extensive use of locations in Seattle and with a sequence near the end filmed on the Pacific Coast at Moclips.

<i>Death Wish</i> (1974 film) 1974 American vigilante action thriller film

Death Wish is a 1974 American vigilante action film directed by Michael Winner. The film, loosely based on the 1972 novel of the same title by Brian Garfield and the first film in the Death Wish film series, stars Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, alongside Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia, William Redfield, Kathleen Tolan and Christopher Guest. In the film, Paul Kersey, an architect leading a peaceful life, resorts to vigilantism after his wife is murdered and daughter raped during a home invasion.

<i>Linda Lovelace for President</i> 1975 American film

Linda Lovelace for President is a 1975 American pornographic comedy film directed by Claudio Guzmán and starring Linda Lovelace, who achieved notoriety as the central character in the most profitable X-rated film of all time, Deep Throat (1972).

<i>Kick-Ass</i> (film) 2010 superhero black comedy film

Kick-Ass is a 2010 superhero black comedy film directed by Matthew Vaughn from a screenplay by Jane Goldman and Vaughn. It is based on the Marvel Comics's comic book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr, and is the first film in the Kick-Ass franchise.

<i>Cop Out</i> (2010 film) 2010 film by Kevin Smith

Cop Out is a 2010 American buddy cop action comedy film directed and edited by Kevin Smith, written by Mark and Robb Cullen. Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan star as two veteran NYPD partners who are on the trail of a stolen, rare, mint-condition baseball card and find themselves up against a memorabilia-obsessed gangster. Adam Brody, Kevin Pollak, Guillermo Diaz and Seann William Scott co-star in supporting roles.

<i>Whiffs</i> 1975 film by Ted Post

Whiffs is a 1975 comedy film directed by Ted Post and starring Elliott Gould, Eddie Albert, Harry Guardino, Godfrey Cambridge, and Jennifer O'Neill. It was produced by Brut Productions and released theatrically in the U.S. by 20th Century Fox.

<i>Shield for Murder</i> 1954 film by Howard W. Koch, Edmond OBrien

Shield for Murder is a 1954 American film noir crime film co-directed by and starring Edmond O'Brien as a police detective who has become malevolent. It was based on the novel of the same name by William P. McGivern.

<i>Savage Sisters</i> 1974 film by Eddie Romero

Savage Sisters is a 1974 women in prison film made in the Philippines and directed by Eddie Romero.

<i>The All-American Boy</i> (film) 1973 film by Charles Eastman

The All-American Boy is a 1973 American drama film written and directed by Charles Eastman. The film stars Jon Voight, E. J. Peaker, Nancie Phillips, Art Metrano, Kathy Mahoney, Carole Androsky and Jeanne Cooper. The film was released by Warner Bros. on October 24, 1973.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Shoestring serenade". Oakland Tribune. 5 June 1974. p. 31.
  2. "PATTON TO BLADE RUNNER: FINAL INTERVIEW OF MORGAN PAULL". Cult Film Freaks. 18 July 2012.
  3. "Dirty O'Neil". Variety Reviews. June 1974.
  4. Thomas, Kevin (4 October 1974). "A clean cut 'Dirty O'Neill'". Los Angeles Times. p. 12 Part 4.
  5. Magnotta, Ernie. "Review Dirty O'Neil (1974". Cinema Retro.
  6. Ottoson, Robert (1985). American International Pictures : a filmography. Garland. p. 254.